Steering lock for outboard motors



Feb. 22, 1955 D, A. ARMSTRONG 2,702,517

STEERING LOCK FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed April 50, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F 3 F194 I 1 Inventor- DRN\EZL AARMsTRoNQ Feb. 22, 1955 D, A. ARMSTRONG 2,702,517

STEERING LOCK FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed April 50, 195l 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FXgr L Inventor- Dnmzn. A. ARMsTRoN A1: tor-r1 lSa Feb. 22, 1955 D. A. ARMSTRONG STEERING LOOK FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 30, 1951 b a 9 LI 6., a m m z 4 v Wm 2 2 Z A/ w $1 em Kr Mn v O 8 f n .T 8 2 2 f IA /M+ L WE M a D A// fi/A/f/AA/ m A n /////A 7 J 2 m h Z 8 e o 7 2 m m 9. o m z r 22 V 8 3 .A A \\A\\\\ 2 3 3 %/VV//l7/l7///Jrl/%l 1| :\+\J u k a mm. 3 3 5 Ill 0 l l 4 4 2 3 II/ I l q a M 2 6 1 2 W. I I11 I 2 OJ a b c 1 5 m s a a F Feb. 22, 1955 D. A. ARMSTRONG 2,702,517

STEERING LOCK FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed April 30, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 x ,,o Z Z R T n 9 1 a o 4- IQ F F O I n t 2 7b I A m m z W; 2 L w 3 2 s E 3 l .mo M E o o. ll 2 r g m D k r VIII 8 F- 2 B G 2 3 8 n! M a m m N 3 m m 0 2 F QWWHWJW IHH, 6 l 3 3 i. 2 Z 0 z m w a m. a III III Illlll] a ll .w 5 Z a 2 r 2 2 1 as //////r/ 2 d United States Patent STEERING LOCK FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Daniel A. Armstrong, Thiensville, Wis., assignor to Scott- Atwater Manufacturing Co. Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application April 30, 1951, Serial No. 223,771

Claims. (Cl. 115-18) This invention relates to an outboard motor and particularly to an outboard motor having provision for preventing upward swinging movement of the lower portion of said motor and propeller when said motor is turned with said propeller directed toward the boat or in position to move the boat rearwardly or in a reverse direction. When the motor is turned so that the propeller is directed forwardly and in a position to move the boat rearwardly or when said propeller is near said position or directed laterally, there is a tendency for the lower part of the motor to swing upwardly due to the action of the propeller. This has resulted in a great many cases in capsizing the boat. It is desirable therefore to have some means which will positively prevent said upward swinging of the propeller and lower portion of the motor when the propeller is in reversing position or adjacent said position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and eflicient means for preventing upward swinging movement of the propeller and lower portion of an outboard motor when in reversing position or adjacent said position.

It is another object of the invention to provide a locking means for preventing upward swinging movement of the propeller and lower portion of an outboard motor when in or near reversing position, which locking means is automatically operated to move into operative position when the propeller approaches reversing position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an outboard motor structure comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a boat transom, a second bracket pivoted to said bracket for swinging movement relatively thereto in a direction substantially perpendicular to the said ransom, said second bracket having a portion in which the main part of said motor is journaled about a substantial vertical axis, a locking means for preventing swinging movement of said second bracket in an upward direction when the motor and propeller thereof are in or near reversing position.

It is still another object of the invention to provide such a structure as set forth in the above paragraph, together with means swingable with the motor for rendering said locking means inoperative when the motor and propeller are in position to move the boat forwardly or in positions at a considerable angle at either side of said position.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide an outboard motor structure comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a boat transom, a second bracket swingable about a pivot in said first mentioned bracket preferably disposed adjacent the upper end of said first mentioned bracket, a swinging latch carried by said second bracket, a member on said first mentioned bracket with which said latch engages to prevent upward swinging movement of said second bracket, resilient means normally urging said latch into operative position and means oscillatable with the motor when turned for steering adapted to engage said latch and move the same to inoperative position when said motor and the propeller thereof are in position to move said boat forwardly or in positions at quite an angle at either side of said position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in being on a line concentric with the axis of bolt 19.

2,702,517 Patented Feb. 22, 1955 which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an outboard motor;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through a bracket adapted to be secured to a boat transom;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through the upper portion of an outboard motor and the brackets securing the same to a boat transom, the same being shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the parts in different positions;

Fig. 6 is a partial section similar to Fig. 5 with a latch used shown in side elevation;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 77 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a partial horizontal section taken on line 99 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a latch used.

Referring to the drawings, an outboard motor is shown, the mounting of which includes a bracket 15 which has laterally spaced portions 15a which are threaded to receive clamping screws 16 having clamping heads 17 rotatably mounted on their inner ends. Screws 16 are shown as provided with operating handles 16a. A pivot bolt 19 extends across bracket 15, the same having a nut 18 at one end and bolt 19 forms a pivot about which a second bracket 20 is adapted to swing. Bracket 20 is provided with certain lugs bored to receive bolt 19, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Bracket 15 has a portion extending over the top of a boat transom 22 shown in vertical section in Figs. 4 and 5. Said bracket 15 has portions which extend downwardly along and in engagement with the outer side of transom 22, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, said portion being provided with small projections 15b adapted to grip the boat transom. Bracket 15 has hollow box-like side portions, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8. These portions are connected at the bottom of said bracket by a transversely extending bar or strip 150. Bracket 15 at either side thereof has secured thereto in suitable recesses a plate 23, the same being secured to bracket 15 by a plurality of screws 24, and each plate 23 is provided with an elongated arcuate slot 23a which is concentric with the axis of bolt 19, said slot having a plurality of semi-cylindrical recesses 23b at its outer side, the centers of said recesses An adjustment pin 25 extends between the sides of bracket 15 and has headed portions 25a (see Figs. 7 and 8) at the outer sides of the plates 23, said pin 25 being adapted to be disposed in any one of the recesses 23b. Reference is made to the structure shown in applicants Patent No. 2,441,000, granted May 4, 1948. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the inner side of bracket 20 has a portion 20a which engages with pin 25 and pin 25 thus forms a stop determining the different positions of bracket 20. Bracket 20 has upper and lower hub-like portions 20b and 200. Said bracket is divided by a slot 20d at its outer or front side and the parts thereof are connected by headed and nutted bolts 27, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 7. The portion 20b is bored to receive a cylindrical portion 28a of the upper portion or cylinder block portion 28 of the motor. A bushing 29 'is shown disposed in portion 20b, the same having a peripheral outward extending flange at its upper end engaging the top of portion 20b and in turn engaged by a shoulder on portion 28 of the motor. The gas tank of the motor is shown as 28b in Fig. 1. A drive shaft and exhaust housing 280 is shown below bracket 20 and the propeller shaft housing 20d is shown disposed below housing 28c. The usual propeller 28e is shown. Propeller 28a in Fig. 1 is directed rearwardly and is thus in a position to move the boat forwardly when said propeller is rotated. A drive shaft housing 28] is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the upper and lower ends of which will be secured in portion 28a and in the upper portion of housing 28c. When the motor is oscillated for steering it will be moved by a steering handle 28g. shown in Fig. 1, and tube 28f will oscillatewith the motor in bracket 20 and specifically in the portions 2% and 20c in which tube 28 is journaled. The; 8(21V6 shaft for the motor is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 as A locking mechanism is provided to prevent upward swinging movement of bracket 20 when the motor and propeller 28c are in reversing position or adjacent thereto. or 1n other words when said propeller 282 is directed toward the boat and in the opposite direction to that shown in Fig. 1. While said locking means might take various forms, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it comprises a swinging latch 32 having a platellke top portion 32a and depending side portions 32!), which latter are formed as a hook at their inner ends, said hook having a bill 32c adapted to hook over and engage the pin 25. As shown in Fig. 4, pin 25 occupies the lowermost recess 23b but it will readily be seen that latch 32 would en age the pin when disposed in any one of the recesses 23b since bracket 20 swings about the axis of bolt 19. Latch 32 is pivoted on a pin 33 disposed in suitable bores in portions 20i of bracket 20, as shown in Fig. 8. A coiled torsion spring 34 surrounds a pin 33 and has one end extending therethrough, as shown in Fig. 8, While its other end engages the rear portion of the top of latch 32, as shown in Fig. 5. Spring 34 normally acts to urge latch 32 to swing in a counter-clockwise dlICCtlOII and to move said latch into engagement with pm 25. Latch 32 has a rear lower portion 320 extending between the sides thereof and said portion 320 is disposed so as to be engaged by the outer surface of an arcuate cam 36, and while this cam mi ht be otherwise mounted, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as secured by spaced rivets 37 to the tubular member 28 or drive shaft housing. The shape of cam 36 is shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9. The outer surface of cam 36 is disposed so as to engage the outer portion of part 320 of latch 32 when the motor is in position with propeller 28:; directed as shown in Fig. 1, and said cam will engage latch 32 when the motor including tubular portion 23f and the propeller is swung to positions within 60 degrees at either side of the position shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 9. When the motor and portion 28 are in said positions, cam 36 swings latch 32 so that it occupies the position shown in Fig. 4. Latch 32 is now in inoperative position and bracket 20 can swing upwardly away from the boat transom 22. When the motor including portion 28 and the propeller is swung sufficiently to move cam 36 out of engagement with portion 320 of latch 32, spring 34 will act to swing latch 32 in a counter-clockwise direction so that said latch moves into engagement with pin 25 and into the position shown in Fig. 5.

Bracket 20 has inwardly projecting lugs 20c thereon some distance above pin 33 and cylindrical members 39 are disposed in members or blocks in lugs 20e, said blocks having cylindrical passages extending axially therethrough. Lugs 20c have central projections 20f entering the outer ends of said passages in blocks 39. A pin 40 extends into the adjacent ends of said passages in blocks 39 and the motor has a portion 28 embracing drive shaft housing 281, which portion 28 has a rearwardlv projecting lug 28m having a bore therein for receiving pin 40. Member 281' is divided at its forward end and has outwardly projecting lugs bored to receive a headed and nutted clamping bolt 41 which connects the side parts of member 28 Bracket 20 has ribs 20g and 20h extending between the lugs therein and also has spaced transverse ribs 20i extending between the sides thereof.

In operation when the motor and the propeller thereof are in position to propel the boat forwardly, cam 36 will be in engagement with portion 32c of latch 32 so that said latch will be held in inoperative position. The motor can be swung upwardly with bracket 25 about the axis of bolt 19. It is often desired to swing the motor upwardly. When however the motor and propeller 23c are oscillated somewhat more than approximately 50 degrees to either side of a central position, cam 36 will move out of engagement with portion 326 of latch 32 and spring 31 will swing latch 32 to engage and hook over pin 25. Bracket 20 is now locked against any upward swinging movement about bolt 19. As above stated, if the propeller is directed at right angles to the center line of the boat or in a more rearwardly position, it is very apt to swing bracket 20 upwardly and this may result in capsizing the boat. With the present invention any upward swinging movement of bracket 20 is prevented when the propeller is in what might be called the dangerous Zone or in reversing position. When the motor and propeller are moved back to normal or forwardly moving position, cam 36 will again engage latch 32 and move the same to inoperative position. The operation of latch 32 is thus automatic and requires no effort or thought on the part of the operator.

The portion 28 and members 39 act to hold the motor in a central position longitudinally of the boat and thus constitute in effect an automatic pilot. This relieves the operator of considerable effort in controlling the handle 28g. It takes a positive swinging of the handle to swing the motor and propeller 28a to change the course of the boat.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a very simple and efficient means for preventing upward swinging of the lower portion of the motor when the motor is turned through a certain angle away from the central normal position for propelling the boat forwardly. The locking means comes into operation at the desired time automatically and as above stated requires no thought or effort on the part of the operator. The locking means is operative regardless of the position in which the swinging bracket for the motor is held. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efficient.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a bracket adapted to be attached to a boat transom, a motor having a portion mounted in said bracket for rotative movement about a substantially vertical axis, cylindrical blocks of resilient material mounted in said bracket in laterally spaced relation, a member secured to said motor for frictional movement relatively thereto, and having a part disposed between said cylindrical blocks, said bracket having lugs respectively disposed in the remote ends of said blocks, said blocks resisting rotative movement of said member and motor about said axis.

2. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a bracket adapted to be attached to a boat transom, said bracket having a cylindrical bore with a substantially vertical axis, a motor having a tubular member journaled in said bore, said bracket having a pair of laterally spaced tubular resilient members disposed therein, a second member frictionally embracing said tubular member and having a lug disposed between the adjacent ends of said resilient said first mentioned members whereby said first mentioned members resist turning movement of said second member and motor.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, said first mentioned members being cylindrical with axial bores therethrough, said bracket having lugs disposed in said bores respectively and a pin disposed in said bores and passing through said lug.

4. The structure set forth in claim 2, said first men tioned members having axially alined cylindrical bores, said bracket having substantially cylindrical portions disposed in said bores for carrying said members, and a pin disposed in the adjacent portions of said bores of said resilient members.

5. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a bracket adapted to be attached to a boat transom, said bracket having a cylindrical bore with a substantially vertical axis, a motor having a tubular member journaled in said bore, said bracket having a pair of laterally spaced resilient tubular members disposed therein, a second member frictionally embracing said first mentioned tubular member and having a lug disposed between and engaging the adjacent ends of said resilient members whereby said first mentioned members resist turning movement of said second member and motor.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Irgens Oct. 31, 1933 -6 Mathias Oct. 31, 1933 Tarr May 8, 1934 Baxter Aug. 28, 1945 Wilson Oct. 31, 1950 Watkins Jan. 29, 1952 Watkins Aug. 5, 1952 

